Electronics Apple overhauling its 30 pin connector - Page 8

Deberg_1990 · 08-14-2012, 11:18 AM

Only Apple.....

http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/14/app...8TechCrunch%29

What happens when you change one port? Quite a lot, actually. Apple introduced the 30-pin iPod port on April 28, 2003. That makes the technology – a fairly streamlined solution for 2003 – nine years old and, thanks to the iPhone’s popularity, essentially ubiquitous. Now, however, as news leaks about either a 19- or 9-pin overhaul of the technology, there’s something important to consider: the install base of 30-pin devices is wild and deep and a simple change could create an e-waste problem if not properly handled.

To be clear: this new pin layout is coming and it’s coming soon. Whether it arrives in this generation or the next still remains to be seen, the sources I reached out to agreed that the switch was imminent.

Apple has sold over approximately 610 million devices with a 30-pin dock connector. There are no hard numbers on iPod dock sales available, but analysts estimate $2 to $3 billion in sales on iPod accessories per year. These are back of the envelope calculations, but assume a fourth of those are $100 docks – some are less, some are much more. That gives us about 5 million docks a year over nine years. That’s 45 million devices in essentially perfect working order that will be partially obsoleted by this move.

“Just imagine how many hotel rooms are fitted with alarm clocks that have a 30-pin dock connector,” said Arman Sadeghi, CEO of AllGreenRecycling, an e-waste handler. “Doing away with the 30-pin dock connector without developing any kind of backwards compatibility option would cause millions of pieces of accessories to become obsolete prematurely. Currently, there are tens of thousands of different devices such as chargers, alarm clocks, docking stations and other devices that work with the 30-pin connector. If this connector was replaced, it would cause a slow but very steady flow of those items coming out of use and into the ewaste stream.”

In short, Apple would relegate a great number of iPod docks to the scrap heap. Arguably, the vast majority of users, especially users using more expensive docks that connect to home entertainment systems and speakers, would invest in a small adapter that will convert a 30-pin jack to the smaller model, but a fraction of those will relegate those old docks to the junk pile. Once the 30-pin is phased out, however, there’s the secondary problem of obsolete iPods.

“The obvious problem will be with people throwing out old accessories but there is another issue as well,” said Sadeghi. “The value of Apple devices with the old connector will drop as well which will cause a large wave of those items entering the eWaste steam as well. iPods and other small devices that people have had for many years will start becoming less desirable in favor of newer versions that will have the same connector as their new iPhone. This effect may, in fact, prove to be a bigger generator of eWaste than the obsolete accessories.”

This sort of move isn’t new, but I suspect that this might be the first major mass exodus from one port architecture to another since serial connections gave way to USB and even that move took years to complete. Apple is notorious for railroading users into technologies although they usually pick the tech that eventually proves to be the winner (there’s a reason there weren’t Compact Flash card readers on earlier MacBooks before the addition of the SD card slot.) Where Apple is at fault is in the speed with which they’re going to push this through. They will sell millions of iPhones and millions of adapters, and the new port will also revitalize the stagnant accessories market. But it will also encourage long-time users to “upgrade” their docks to support the new standard (or at least spend $10 on a compatible adapter).

It’s also not Apple’s fault that accessory makers hitched their wagon to the Apple star. There was and is a lot of money to be made. But this change will change things considerably and the trash and recycling it will generate is has the potential to be more than impressive.

The real impact can be seen as negligible. Docks are made of plastic and a few magnets. In a perfect world those docks would end up at an ewaste location where they will be recycled into new products or they will end up in the garage sale and secondary market, used by millions who just don’t want to or can’t upgrade.

But in a world of increasingly scarce resources, it’s an interesting thought exercise to see what a minor change in on port on a popular phone can do to an entire ecosystem of accessories. Apple is lucky that an industry made hardware solely for their devices. Now we’re about to see what happens when that industry – and the consumers who bought into that constellation of accessories – suddenly has to shift direction.

Pitt Gorilla · 08-15-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

yeah, too lazy to find it....but seem to like to argue about it

Here it is:

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=222464

**DaneMcCloud** · 08-15-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Have you tried calibrating the battery with the Battery Doctor app?

No, I haven't. Is that an installed feature or a download? Thanks for the response!

**AustinChief** · 08-15-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

I'm all for standards, but Apple doesn't want to standardize. It benefits by keeping it's iPod/iPhone/iPad products distinct. It won't do anything to hurt it's brand.

If the argument is that Apple should have kept it's old connector vs. the new one, that's nonsense. It's not unreasonable to expect companies to update their technology once a decade.

If the argument is that Apple should have adopted USB, I can buy that. But won't happen.

Also, yes - **** Sony. 100x.

Yep, this is all I'm saying.. and yet again.. **** Sony.

**AustinChief** · 08-15-2012, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

The bolded is not true bud. You're just trying to be difficult.

And regarding the iPad market share, it's still a very long way from 15%. It will be more than a little ironic that the Android tablet you buy me when I win our bet won't have a new version of Flash available.

I actually can't find EXACT figures but the white-box segment of JUST ANDROID tablets is set to outsell iPads this year... the problem is... then you have to add in all OTHER tablet sales and the only place I know of to get that info charges like $1000 for the reports. My best guess is that it will be close to 20-25% because Microsoft was too slow to get in the game.. they are going to be almost a full year behind what I thought.

Oh and I think the cutoff was 17% but yeah at this pace it should be close but it looks like you may win. If you're lucky, the timing might work out where Google has their next Nexus out by then!

Silock · 08-15-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

No, I haven't. Is that an installed feature or a download? Thanks for the response!

It's a download, but totally worth it, IMO.

patteeu · 08-16-2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

I assume it would be too traumatized to talk to me after getting cussed out 50 times a day.

You can have Siri refer to you as "Appliance Killer" if you want. That will probably keep her appropriately respectful.

**AustinChief** · 09-10-2012, 12:15 AM

and here we have pics of Apple's new NINE pin connector .. yes, that's right two pins less than microUSB3. So even though KCFish's "mo pins equals mo better!" argument was complete bullshit from the get go... it now falls completely apart.

Assuming the pics are accurate and the rumors are correct as well.. the new connector is the same size as microusb and the only advantage is that it appears to be reversible. Of course on the negative side is the issue that NO OTHER COMPANY IN THE ****ING WORLD uses it.

On an semi-related note... it appears that Apple will FINALLY get 4G with the iPhone 5. I have read a number of articles this week that basically are fawning over Apple for this move and how awesome they are. um, I have had 4g phones for THREE YEARS now. It's beyond amazing that anyone would give them credit for finally catching up.

The media fascination with Apple is annoying as hell. They are down to a 16% share of the market and if Microsoft doesn't screw up that will probably fall to the 10-15% range in the next few years. Android has FOUR times the market share and receives LESS media attention. That is just insane.

Great Expectations · 09-10-2012, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

The media fascination with Apple is annoying as hell. They are down to a 16% share of the market and if Microsoft doesn't screw up that will probably fall to the 10-15% range in the next few years. Android has FOUR times the market share and receives LESS media attention. That is just insane.

I plan on switching from an iphone to android.

Once there is a single phone out there that has a comparable market share of the iPhone it will probably get similar attention.

**AustinChief** · 09-12-2012, 11:44 AM

bump for discussion of the now official new connector.

L.A. Chieffan · 09-12-2012, 11:45 AM

Its called Lightning. Another 100 Billion for Apple

What else is there to discuss?

**AustinChief** · 09-12-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

Its called Lightning. Another 100 Billion for Apple

What else is there to discuss?

I want to hear the excuses made by fanbois for why they didn't just use micro usb3... like everyone else.

Pitt Gorilla · 09-12-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I want to hear the excuses made by fanbois for why they didn't just use micro usb3... like everyone else.

They don't want/have to.

**AustinChief** · 09-12-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

They don't want/have to.

Well, they were earlier in this thread...

It's a piece of shit move by Apple that is simply proprietary nonsense and hope it backfires. Unfortunately the fanbois will gargle down any hot load that Apple shoots their way and nary a grumble will be heard.

Pitt Gorilla · 09-12-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Well, they were earlier in this thread...

It's a piece of shit move by Apple that is simply proprietary nonsense and hope it backfires. Unfortunately the fanbois will gargle down any hot load that Apple shoots their way and nary a grumble will be heard.

I think you may have misunderstood; Apple doesn't want/have to use another standard.

I'm trying to figure out why it gets your panties in such a bunch. If you don't like it, fine. If others do, fine. Like you said, the market will sort it out, as it always has.

**AustinChief** · 09-12-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I think you may have misunderstood; Apple doesn't want/have to use another standard.

I'm trying to figure out why it gets your panties in such a bunch. If you don't like it, fine. If others do, fine. Like you said, the market will sort it out, as it always has.

pet peeve. I bitch about Sony for the same crap just as much. I'm a huge standards guy.

But yes, you are being realistic about why Apple is doing. Others have made bogus claims that it was a necessary advancement that was superior to any standard out there.

08-14-2012, 11:18 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Apple overhauling its 30 pin connector Only Apple..... http://techcrunch.com/2012/08/14/app...8TechCrunch%29 What happens when you change one port? Quite a lot, actually. Apple introduced the 30-pin iPod port on April 28, 2003. That makes the technology – a fairly streamlined solution for 2003 – nine years old and, thanks to the iPhone’s popularity, essentially ubiquitous. Now, however, as news leaks about either a 19- or 9-pin overhaul of the technology, there’s something important to consider: the install base of 30-pin devices is wild and deep and a simple change could create an e-waste problem if not properly handled. To be clear: this new pin layout is coming and it’s coming soon. Whether it arrives in this generation or the next still remains to be seen, the sources I reached out to agreed that the switch was imminent. Apple has sold over approximately 610 million devices with a 30-pin dock connector. There are no hard numbers on iPod dock sales available, but analysts estimate $2 to $3 billion in sales on iPod accessories per year. These are back of the envelope calculations, but assume a fourth of those are $100 docks – some are less, some are much more. That gives us about 5 million docks a year over nine years. That’s 45 million devices in essentially perfect working order that will be partially obsoleted by this move. “Just imagine how many hotel rooms are fitted with alarm clocks that have a 30-pin dock connector,” said Arman Sadeghi, CEO of AllGreenRecycling, an e-waste handler. “Doing away with the 30-pin dock connector without developing any kind of backwards compatibility option would cause millions of pieces of accessories to become obsolete prematurely. Currently, there are tens of thousands of different devices such as chargers, alarm clocks, docking stations and other devices that work with the 30-pin connector. If this connector was replaced, it would cause a slow but very steady flow of those items coming out of use and into the ewaste stream.” In short, Apple would relegate a great number of iPod docks to the scrap heap. Arguably, the vast majority of users, especially users using more expensive docks that connect to home entertainment systems and speakers, would invest in a small adapter that will convert a 30-pin jack to the smaller model, but a fraction of those will relegate those old docks to the junk pile. Once the 30-pin is phased out, however, there’s the secondary problem of obsolete iPods. “The obvious problem will be with people throwing out old accessories but there is another issue as well,” said Sadeghi. “The value of Apple devices with the old connector will drop as well which will cause a large wave of those items entering the eWaste steam as well. iPods and other small devices that people have had for many years will start becoming less desirable in favor of newer versions that will have the same connector as their new iPhone. This effect may, in fact, prove to be a bigger generator of eWaste than the obsolete accessories.” This sort of move isn’t new, but I suspect that this might be the first major mass exodus from one port architecture to another since serial connections gave way to USB and even that move took years to complete. Apple is notorious for railroading users into technologies although they usually pick the tech that eventually proves to be the winner (there’s a reason there weren’t Compact Flash card readers on earlier MacBooks before the addition of the SD card slot.) Where Apple is at fault is in the speed with which they’re going to push this through. They will sell millions of iPhones and millions of adapters, and the new port will also revitalize the stagnant accessories market. But it will also encourage long-time users to “upgrade” their docks to support the new standard (or at least spend $10 on a compatible adapter). It’s also not Apple’s fault that accessory makers hitched their wagon to the Apple star. There was and is a lot of money to be made. But this change will change things considerably and the trash and recycling it will generate is has the potential to be more than impressive. The real impact can be seen as negligible. Docks are made of plastic and a few magnets. In a perfect world those docks would end up at an ewaste location where they will be recycled into new products or they will end up in the garage sale and secondary market, used by millions who just don’t want to or can’t upgrade. But in a world of increasingly scarce resources, it’s an interesting thought exercise to see what a minor change in on port on a popular phone can do to an entire ecosystem of accessories. Apple is lucky that an industry made hardware solely for their devices. Now we’re about to see what happens when that industry – and the consumers who bought into that constellation of accessories – suddenly has to shift direction.
Posts: 66,914

09-10-2012, 12:15 AM	#112
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $2759112	and here we have pics of Apple's new NINE pin connector .. yes, that's right two pins less than microUSB3. So even though KCFish's "mo pins equals mo better!" argument was complete bullshit from the get go... it now falls completely apart. Assuming the pics are accurate and the rumors are correct as well.. the new connector is the same size as microusb and the only advantage is that it appears to be reversible. Of course on the negative side is the issue that NO OTHER COMPANY IN THE ****ING WORLD uses it. On an semi-related note... it appears that Apple will FINALLY get 4G with the iPhone 5. I have read a number of articles this week that basically are fawning over Apple for this move and how awesome they are. um, I have had 4g phones for THREE YEARS now. It's beyond amazing that anyone would give them credit for finally catching up. The media fascination with Apple is annoying as hell. They are down to a 16% share of the market and if Microsoft doesn't screw up that will probably fall to the 10-15% range in the next few years. Android has FOUR times the market share and receives LESS media attention. That is just insane.
Posts: 19,486

09-12-2012, 11:44 AM	#114
AustinChief Administrator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Austin Casino cash: $2759112	bump for discussion of the now official new connector.
Posts: 19,486

09-12-2012, 11:45 AM	#115
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $4108654	Its called Lightning. Another 100 Billion for Apple What else is there to discuss?
Posts: 17,367